National Shield run would give the Greens a lift
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The Greens are looking to put a wretched season behind them by savouring a run in the National Shield.
They have found themselves in the last 16 of the competition by virtue of a first-round bye and Ellon's scratching from their scheduled appearance in Thurso last Saturday.
They have been drawn away to fellow Caley 1 side Carnoustie, who finished fourth in the Midlands Conference.
Caithness head coach Cameron Boyd would have obviously preferred a home tie. But, referring to the string of visiting sides that have pulled out of trips to Millbank, he said: "At least we know when it's away that it's definitely going to happen."
Boyd has watched videos of the Angus side in action in their conference.
He said: "They have a big, physical pack who play a pretty direct game, not unlike Aberdeenshire."
Boyd is hoping the knockout tournament can provide a silver lining for his side, who have played just three games since the start of December.
"It would be nice to have a run in the cup to give the boys a bit of a lift," he said.
The third-round tie is their next fixture on March 2.
The Yellows, meanwhile, have been forced to scratch from the Highlands and Islands Conference of Caley North 2.
Boyd said: "We have managed to fulfil nearly all our fixtures to date but in the last couple of away games we have been travelling with fewer than 10 players.
"Our opponents have been really helpful and supportive and loaned us players so the games have gone ahead. But it's just not sustainable and our guys were understandably getting a bit scunnered."
The crunch came with upcoming successive trips to Skye, Stornoway and Inverness.
"We had to be realistic and we could maybe have got through it but it would probably have done more harm than good," Boyd said.
The 2nd XV had also faced the potential sanction of being eliminated from the league.
Boyd said Scottish Rugby has agreed that they will be competing next year in Caley North 3.
The coach said the club will benefit over the next couple of seasons by an influx from its youth section, which has healthy numbers at mini, under-13, under-14 and under-16 levels.
In the meantime, it is hoped a couple of friendlies will be arranged for the Seconds before the end of this season.
The Yellows were in action on Saturday when 12 headed over the Pentland Firth to play Orkney Seconds. They included several first-team players who needed some game time.
Their hosts loaned them nine players in what was the first leg of the annual Lyle Cup.
The visitors ended up 47-7 winners, with flanker Max Kennedy making the transition to outside centre in style as he scored two long-range tries in a man-of-the-match display.
Boyd was also impressed with Calum MacDonald's feisty performance at lock, Kevin Brims's outing at number eight and rookie Fraser MacGlennan's bedding in at scrum-half.
